How to start in the world of Mac

eoinm1

Hi

I'm thinking of getting an Apple Mac of some type.
This is for me to learn a bit about apple products and also maybe a bit of net usage.
My main requirment is that it is easy to transport as during the week i work in a city and at the weekend i go home.
I have looked at the basic mac mini and I have a couple of questions.

(1) Can the RAM be updated at a later date and is it easy to find and install.
(2) Can the WiFi and BT be added at a later date and is it easy to find and install.
(2) Can the Hard Disk be updated at a later date and is it easy to find and install.
(4) My mouse and keyboard are PS/2 will any cheap USB mouse and kb work.
(5) Should i look at a second hand laptop instead.

What I'm after is a cheap introduction to the world off Apple.
The 500 euro for the mac mini will take 3 months to save and if I was to buy it with the WIfi and bluetooth installed it would take 4-5 months.


So any advice would be welcome.

Thank you,
Eoin

DubTony

eoinm1 wrote:

Hi

I'm thinking of getting an Apple Mac of some type.
This is for me to learn a bit about apple products and also maybe a bit of net usage.
My main requirment is that it is easy to transport as during the week i work in a city and at the weekend i go home.
I have looked at the basic mac mini and I have a couple of questions.

(1) Can the RAM be updated at a later date and is it easy to find and install.
(2) Can the WiFi and BT be added at a later date and is it easy to find and install.
(2) Can the Hard Disk be updated at a later date and is it easy to find and install.
(4) My mouse and keyboard are PS/2 will any cheap USB mouse and kb work.
(5) Should i look at a second hand laptop instead.

What I'm after is a cheap introduction to the world off Apple.
The 500 euro for the mac mini will take 3 months to save and if I was to buy it with the WIfi and bluetooth installed it would take 4-5 months.


So any advice would be welcome.

Thank you,
Eoin

1. Ram can be added later - supports up to 1GB. Ram is widely available and usually simply slots in.
2. Airport card and bluetooth can be added later. D-Link BT Adaptor will take up one USB slot.
3 Any USB KB and mouse will work. (2 button mouse feels more natural for Windows users)
4. Would recommend going for the 80 gb HD or adding an external one later.
5.

Whilst the MacMini is portable, it's not a portable computer like an iBook or Powerbook (it needs to be plugged in). If you've got monitors at both locations (and maybe keyboards) you'll be easily able to transport the MacMini. It's smaller that a laptop.

Good Luck

Tony

David Stewart

I would strongly advise going with Bluetooth as a build to order option than adding it later. You can boot the Mac from a CD by holding down the C key on your keyboard. However, if you are using a BT keyboard and a third party adapter, the keyboard will not be recognised until AFTER the boot process has started. On the other hand, if your BT is installed at build, the BT keyboard will be recognised immediately. The same applies to holding down the mouse button to eject a CD at boot.

eoinm1

DubTony wrote:

2. Airport card and bluetooth can be added later. D-Link BT Adaptor will take up one USB slot.

Will this add on Bluetooth and WiFi be the same as the factory installed ones?
David Stewart made a good point in the above post.

DubTony wrote:

If you've got monitors at both locations (and maybe keyboards) you'll be easily able to transport the MacMini. It's smaller that a laptop.

My intention would be to have a VDU, keyboard and mouse in both locations.

Thanks for the info and help lads.

Eóin

DubTony

eoinm1 wrote:

Will this add on Bluetooth and WiFi be the same as the factory installed ones?
David Stewart made a good point in the above post.

The Bluetooth would not be the same. The D-Link DBT-120 USB Bluetooth Adapter costs €49 from the Apple Store. (Probably plus shipping and can be bought cheaper in other online stores). Wi-Fi is an Airport card and cost €79 at the Apple Store. This is the same item installed by Apple. (Simple to install)

Dave makes a good point. I use a wireless KB and mouse on an iMac with the D-Link adaptor, but haven't needed to start from a CD since I replaced the originals. But now that I'm aware of it, I'll root out the old KB. Remember though, any USB keyboard and mouse will work.

Tony

deevey

maplin are doing a class 1 bluetooth USB adaptor that works fine without any additional drivers for osx for 39 euro at the mo ... sync'd my mates phone no prob outta the box and better range..

i'd go for the airport built in rather than bluetooth... airport extreme range is great, and i'd feel naked without it

personally i'd go for the stock basic mac mini with airport.. and get an external HDD when you need it ram wise, looks easy nuff to crack open the case and add 512 or higher standard ram from shop 4 memory..

...and go for the mac kb mouse combo (they do still look well).

JustHalf

Good article here:
http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/miniguide.ars

eoinm1

Hi Lads

Thanks for all the help.

Just have to save up the funds now.

Eóin

dub45

eoinm1 wrote:

Hi Lads

Thanks for all the help.

Just have to save up the funds now.

Eóin

I am sure I read in several places that it is not that easy to add ram afterwards?

Incidentally there are a couple of books specifically for switchers.

parsi

General consensus is that its a doddle if you use a putty knife and are careful taking off the cover - there are PDFs (and even a movie) around on the subject...

I found the Missing Manual a useful book coming from a Windows environment..

Clank

Well since your talking about getting the mac mini, the RAM is NOT easily upgradeable, if you open the mac minis case your warranty is void...unless you get it installed by an Apple authorised seller.
I have a Powerbook and yes its easy, but its covered under warranty, the minis is not, im sure its still not that hard in minis but again your not covered.

WiFi and Bluetooth likewise, authorised seller or void warranty, unless you do it externally obviously.

HD the same.

Id recommend lookin for a second hand laptop as you said, depending on how high your budget can go